File
The Gqeberha businessman accused of conspiring to kill his estranged wife Vicki Terblanche appeared in the St Albans Magistrate's Court on Friday where he is facing seven new charges.
Arnold Terblanche, 56, has been in custody for nearly a year and has made three attempts at bail.
On Friday the State revealed that the accused was so desperate for freedom that he wanted to convince his co-accused, Dyllan Cullis, to retract his statement and furnish the State with a new version that would exonerate him in the murder of his estranged wife.
Cullis has since turned state's witness.
According to the charge sheet, seen by Algoa FM News, Terblanche also wanted to bribe officials to circumvent the provisions pertaining to his bail, in order to get bail.
He also allegedly wanted an opportunity to influence the appointment of two Judges who would hear his bail application in the High Court.
The name of the lead investigating officer in the case, Kanna Swanepoel also featured on the charge sheet as Terblanche allegedly wanted him removed from the investigation.
Earlier this year, the businessman had to give up his cell phone in St Albans due to a raid, however, the phone was returned to him after which he allegedly bribed officials to ensure that he was warned in time of any future raids.
The State further alleges that Terblanche wanted his co-accused Reinhardt Leach to be transferred from North End to St Albans, which was against a direct order from Magistrate Abigail Beeton, who had questioned during an earlier bail hearing why Leach had not been detained at North End.
Besides facing the new charges related to defeating the ends of justice, Terblanche is also facing another charge of conspiring to kill his two co-accused Reinhardt Leach and Dyllan Cullis, as well as another state witness, Mario De Ridder.
The case was postponed to 28 October for Terblanche to apply for bail, based on new facts, after he was granted permission on Monday to bring an application in the Magistrate's Court.
Last month, Algoa FM News reported exclusively on allegations that Terblanche was getting special treatment in prison by having access to cell phones and contact visits which are not allowed.
